800 DioECiA HEX ANURIA. D'loscorea. 



late point, five to seven-nerved, smooth, glossy green above, 

 paler underneatb. Petioles stem-clasping, winged, as in 

 the other species. Male nm\ female spikes, as m the Id^t 

 described. 



5. D. atropurpitrea. R. 



Tvhers sub-rotund, purple throughout. Stems annual, 

 twining, four-winged, wings coloured and curled. Leaves 

 profoundly cordate, from five to seven-nerved. 



This is the species so extensively cultivated at Malacca, 

 Pegu, and the eastern islands. The ttihers are very large, of 

 an irregular, smooth, roundish shape, and growing so near the 

 surface of the earth, as to appear in dry weather through the 

 cracks that they make by raising the soil over them. This, 

 and tbe very deep colour of the yarn, renders it readily 

 distinguished ; the stems and branches are sometimes as far 

 as six or seven-winged, but four is general. The petioles are 

 also winged, much enlarged at the base, and stem-clasping, 



6. D. aculeata. Roxb. 



Tubers oblong, pendulous, the fibres of the proper roots 

 become spinous. Leaves reniform-cordate, acute, from five 

 to seven-nerved, 



Cumbilium. Rumph. Amb. v. p. 357. t. 126. one of his va- 

 rieties thereof is no doubt this very plant ; but Katta Kelan- 

 gu, Rheed. Mai. vii. t. 37. is too imperfect a figure to be 

 quoted. 



A native of Bengal. The roots which are of an oval form, 

 and generally about two pounds, or more in weight, are de- 

 licately white, and during the cool season, dug up in the 

 woods, for it is not cultivated, and carried for sale to the 

 market at Calcutta, where they are known to the natives 

 by the name Mou-aloo. In habit it resembles much the 

 species 1 have called D. fasciculata, Soosni-aloo of the 

 Hindoos. 



